James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
Most powerful space telescope ever built. Launched Dec 25, 2021, operating at Sun-Earth L2 point 1.5M km from Earth. Revolutionizing astronomy across every domain — earliest galaxies, exoplanet atmospheres, star formation, solar system science. Has enough fuel to operate through the 2040s. Built by Northrop Grumman (prime) with Ball Aerospace mirror segments.
Budget
$10B development + ~$200M/yr operations
Timeline
2021–2040s (operations)
Key Milestones
Launch on Ariane 5 — Christmas Day 2021
2021 — Dec
First full-color images released (Carina Nebula, Stephan's Quintet, deep field)
2022 — Jul
Confirmed galaxy MoM-z14 — existed just 280M years after Big Bang
2023
First direct CO2 detection in exoplanet atmosphere; growing supermassive black hole at 570M years
2024
Discovered new Uranus moon (#29); mapped extraordinary organic molecules in external galaxy
2025
Continuing Cycle 5 observations; exoplanet atmosphere surveys ongoing
2026
Contractors
Sources
- science.nasa.gov/mission/webb
- esawebb.org